Ironing machine



Sept. 14 1926.

1,599,796 H. F. SNYDER IRONING MACHINE I File August 6. 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 14 1926. 1,599,796

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Sept. 14 1926.

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H. F. SNYDER IRONING MACHINE Filed August 6, 1923 S-SheetS-Sheet 5 Patented Sept. 14, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

HOWARD F. SNYDER, OF NEWTON'JIOWA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, T

'rrm MaY'rAe comrm, or :nnw'rou,

' momma IOWA, a conronarron or DELAWARE.

nmonmn. I

, Application filed August 6, 1923. Serial No. 655,795.,

The present invention relates to' ironing machines, and has particular reference to 7 those operated or driven by power.

Among the objects of the invention are to,

provide a novel. ironing machine, light in weight, readily portable, rigid in construction, economical in manufacture and facile of operation;- to provide a simple, lightweight support in lieu of the heretofore usual heavy frame; to provide for means for feeding the material to be ironed to and over the ironing surface of the shoe, such means being preferably in the form of a roll, the roll being preferably of, substantially uniform cross-sectional area throughout its length as also the shoe whereby the space between the roll and the shoe is open at both ends thereof for materials of greater Width than the length of the roll and shoe to project or extend of the roll and shoe; ing the roll for easy 0 provide for support movement toward and from the shoe and also forfloating action.

whereby the roll will be continually rotated or operated by the driving mechanism ir-, respective of the position of the roll, the driving mechanism preferably having a flexible driving connection, such as universal couplings or joints, for permitting the 'floating of the roll; to provide for mounting the driving mechanism in stationary position on the supportand also sufficiently spaced from anend of the roll and shoe in order to not .interfere with the free projecting of the over-wide portions of the materials being ironed, beyond the ends of the roll and shoe; to provide the driving mechanism with a member, for ready and convenient connection to a corresponding coupling member operatively connected to the driving mechanism of a washing machine, the coupling beingeasil made by moving the washing machine a vice Versa and merely slightly lifting the end,-of the ironing machine, carrying the driving mechanism thereof, over the'drlvingmechanism of the Washing machine and bringin the coupling members into clutch when t e end of the ironing machine is lowered; to so mount the roll on the support, that it may be manually moved into Handout of ironing position, with regard to the shoe, by means .of foot operated mechreely beyond the ends" driving connection, such as a coupling 1 jacent to the ironing machine, or

anism, the hands' of the operator being, at 56 all times, free to guide the feeding of the material being ironed; to provide the foot operated mechanism which moves the roll, as well as the table upon which the materials are placed for feeding, with "means, 60 such as toggle joints or the like, which will operate when the mechanism and the roll are brought into one position such as nonironing position, to bring parts of the toggle members past a dead center and to hold themechanism which su ports and moves the table and roll, in loc ed position so that a; removal of the foot from the foot-bar or treadle will not cause the automatic going into iron ing operation of the roll; to pro- 7 vide for tripping the toggle joint looks, when it is desired to effect ironing operation of the roll and shoe, by preferably a foot operated tripping lever cooperating with the mechanism so that when the lever is depressed by the foot by the operator, the toggle joint is brought out of locked condition; to provide means, preferably a spring, for normally holding the roll in ironing osition and for acting upon the unlockm of the toggle joints to move the'roll an the parts connected to it into ironing position; to provide the shoe, preferably the lower part thereof, with means for detachably connecting a'heating device so that the latter may extend into the shoe between the. forward ironing wall and the rear insulated Wall thereof where the emittedheat may efficiently heat the ironingwall, the heating device being of any type desired, such as gas burner, oil stove, electric heater and such other heating devices as may be desired, the same being interchangeably and detachably connected to the,shoe, thus making for a machine universal in its use of heating means, being capable of use with the type of heater using the fuel. or source of heat that happens to be available to the user of the machine; to provide for making the heater in a single u'nitarydevice, the device as a 9 whole being readily attached in' place; to provide a roll with preferably a metal. body and a covering of asbestos, the roll preferably being provided. with headswithin the ends of the roll,ls o thatthe'ywill be clear of the projecting vportions of thematerials of great width, the driving connection from the" driving mechanism extending, into an end of the roll and being connected to one of the heads whereby the roll may be rotatably driven; and to provide for such other and further objects, advantages and capabilities as will later more fully appear andare inherently possessed by the invention.

In the drawings illustrating preferred embodiments of the invention, Fig. 1 is a rear iew in elevation of an ironing machine const noted in accordance with the invention; Fig. 2 is a side view in elevation of the same; Fig. 3 is a similar view of part of the machine showing a different position of the parts in the non-ironing position thereof; Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the machine; Fig. 7 isa rear view of the upper part of the machine showing the use of oil heaters instead of a gas burner for heating the shoe; Fig. 8 is a transverse sectional view taken on line 8.8 of Fig. 9; Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 9-9 of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is a vertical sectional view taken through the driving mechanism for driving the roll; and Fig. 11 is the hori zontal sectional view taken on line 11- 11 of Fig. 10.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, one form of device selected to illustrate the invention is shown as comprising a' support having upright members or legs 1, preferably of tubular form, adjustably clamped in pedestal or base members 2 having rollers or casters 3 by which the support may be easily transported about the lace of use. The vertical height of the egs, 1 and hence the parts carried thereby,

-may be adjusted by loosening of the clamping bolts 4 and the clamping plate 5, the legs being then adjusted to the desired height in any suitable manner, as manually, and then the bolts 4 again tightened to clamp-* the plate 5 tightly against the leg 1, as .clearly shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing.

At the upper end of the support is mounted an ironing shoe 6 having end walls to which are secured brackets 7 and 8 having depending sockets 9 and 10 fitting over the upper ends of the legs 1, suitable set screws 11 and 12 being used to secure the same in position. The shoe comprises an inner wall 13, which is concave somewhat to conform to' the periphery of a cylinder and a rear aced from the front wall at 'a suitable d1stance,.as clearly shown in Fig. 8 of the drawing. The wall 13 is preferably made of aluminum because this metal 18 readil maintained clean and smooth, as

-Well as eing capable of transmitting heat rapidly' and quickly through it. The rear wall 14 is preferably made of a double wall "portion having therebetween a packing or ad of asbestos for the purpose of insulatmg the rear ofthe shoe and preventing. the

waste of radiated heat therefrom, all heat available. in the shoe being directed to the forewall 13.

The lower portions of the walls 13 and 14 of the shoe diverge to receive therebetween a suitable heating device, that shown in Figs. 1 and 8 being of'the gas burner type, and that shown in Fig. 7 being of the oil stove type. This is merely illustrative of the various kinds of heating devices that may be used, it being understood that other devices for producing heat, such as electrical coils, etc. may be used. In the form shown in Figs. 1 and 8, the heating device comprises a base plate 16 which is suitably secured to ears 17 formed integral with the end walls of the shoe, and by bolts 18 inserted into such ears for holding the plate 16 in place. Upon the plate is connected a pair of supporting members 19 and 20 in which is mounted a burner 21 connected to an inlet pipe 22, having a hand regulating valve 23 and a suitable connection for the connecting thereto of a rubber hose from a gas stove or the like. The base plate 16 is provided with an opening through which the pipe portion22 may pass to the exterior of the machine.

If however gas is not available at the place of use of the machine, the operator may make use of an oil stove, as shown in ig. 7 of the drawing. In this case the plate 16 is lowered and is held in suspension by means of rods 25 having their upper ends threaded into the ears 17. The oil stove may include a number of burners 26 having regulating valves 27, the fuel feed pipe 28 connected to the fuel tank 29. The latter may be supported upon the pipe itself or in any other suitable manner. In a case of using the gas burner type of heater the burner has a plurality of perforations through which the jets may be directed to ward the ironing surface 13. In the case of using the oil burner, the heated gases pass upwardly through the upper part of each burner toward the ironing surface 13 and whatever gases that impinge against the inner inclined surface of the wall 14 will "be reflected toward the forward wall 13 of the shoe.

At the upper part of the hood may be provided a plurality of vent openings 30 I for the escape of burnt gases or the like.

Also at the upper part and preferably in the midd e of the hood is attached a temperature indicating device 31 which has a dial 32 and an indicator 33 operable to instantial distance and has attached at its outer ends, by means of bolts 34 a casing 35 of a driving mechanism for a roll 36 of the machine. This driving mechanism comprises a clutch member 37 connected to a eveled pinion 38 in mesh. with a beveled gear 39 freely rotatable upon a cross shaft 40 having bearings on the side walls of the casing 35, as clearly shown in Fig. 11 of the drawing. The shaft 40 is slidable (in its bearings, as well as rotatable,'and its sliding iscontrolled by a hand operated cam member 41 rotated upon a pin 42 fastened to the casing 35, and has inclined portions cooper.- able with the end 43 of the shaft 40 so that in one position of the cam, the shaft 40 will be moved longitudinally in a direction to clutch gears together, and in another position, the

- cam will permit its movement in the oppospring 49 to site direction. To'the shaft 40 is secured a spur gear 44 by means ofa pin 45, this gear being enmeshed with'a spur gear 46 secured to a shaft 47 rotatably supported in the casing 35 and having'at one end thereof'a universal coupling 48. The 'gear44 is elongated so that when it is movedllongitudinal- 1y it may continually be in mesh with the teeth of the gear 46, and it also has a recess in which is located a coil spring 49 reacting against the gear 44 at one end thereof and the gear 39 at the other end, with a tendency to constantly separate the gears. The gear 39 has a tooth 5O capable'of meshing with the teeth 51 of the gear 44, when the latter is moved longitudinally into mesh with the teeth 50. The movement of the gear 44 is effected by the cam 41 when it is operated to move the shaft 40 together with the gear 44 so as'to permit the enmeshment of the ends of the gear teeth- 51 with the teeth .50. When it is desired to disengage these gears, the cam 41 may be turned so as to permit the separate the gears 44 and 39, hence the teeth 50 and 51.

The roll 36 is rotatably supported in a holder 52, which also carries a table 53. A receiving apron 54 is secured to the uprights as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. The holder 52 has rearwardly extending arms 55 which are pivotallyconnected to sockets 56 mounted upon the legs 1. These sockets 56 may be securely clamped to the legs lby means of binding bolts 57 as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of'the drawing. The end ieces of the holder 52 are suitably connecte together by cross rods 58 so as to hold the end pieces'in proper spaced relation. To the lower portion of each side piece of the holder 52 is suitably secured a depending arm 59 by means of bolts 60, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawing. At the upper portion of each side piece of the holder 52 is provided an annuar member or portion 61which carries a roller bearing 62 which co-operates with a head 63 fittingtightly in the open end of the roll 36, as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 9 of the drawing. There is a bearing for each end of the roll but at the end of the roll where the driving mechanism is cbnnected, the head 63 113131111 inwardly extending portion 64 to'which is connected a universal joint 65 by means of a cross pin 66, this universal joint 65 being connected by a telescopic shaft 67 being connected at its other end to the universal coupling 48 described above and shown clearly in Figs. 9 and 11 of the drawing. These universal couplings together with the shaft 64 and the head 63 constitute a driving connection from the driving mechanism to the roll. It. will be noted from Fig. 3 of the drawing that the holder end pieces do not'extend beyond the roll toward the ironing shoe 6 so as to leave the space clear between the ironing shoe and the roll at the ends thereof so that any material or pieces of goodsbeing ironed, and which are wider than the length of the roll and shoe, may project freely outwardly beyondthe ends thereof. The driving mechanism is located in spaced relation with' the ends of the roll and shoe so as to preventinterference'of any overlapping edge protruding from the space above mentioned.

- The roll 36 preferably comprlses a body portion 68 of sheet metal anda' cover 69 ofasbestos, the asbestos being of suitable thickness so as to retain the heat efficiently without too much loss through the metal body 68 and the parts connected to it. I

It will be noted by the universal driving connection from the dI'1VlIlg II 1eCh3.I11S 1I1, to the roll, that the roll is capable of movement transversely of the axis of the shaft 47 without the driving connection being broken. This is possible by reason of the universal joints 48 and 65 and the longitudinal slide of the sections of the shaft 67, as maybe clearly seen from Fig. 9 of the drawing; It

will also be noted that the driving connection extends from the driving mechanism, through the open end of the roll, as well as through the annular bearing member 61. This makes a very self-contained arrangement. It will be seen from Figs. 2 and 3 that the holder 52 together with the roller 36, and table 53 are movable as a unit about the pivot 70 of the arm 55 where it is connected to the'socket 56. For the purpose ofgiving this movement, the lower end of. the arm 59 is bifurcated to receive a shank 71 of a socket member 72 receiving an end of a spring 73 reacting at its other end into a socket 74 of a socket member 75 secured to' the legs 1 by means of a' crossbolt 76 passing through both the legs 1 and the socket member 75, as clearly shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 of the drawing. The effect of the inherent expansive force of the spring 73 is to constantly urge or push the lower'end'of and the shoe 6 for starting the 'the arm 59 forwardly so as to cause the The apron 54 is secured at its rear end to the socket members 9 and 10 fastened to the upper ends of the legs' 1 and also to the socket members 56 by means of bolts 77, as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawmgs;

4 It will be noted that the spring 73 normally holds the roller in ironing osition.

\Vhen it is desired, however, to siift the roller away from the shoe so as to move it away from ironing position, as into the position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, means is provided which is capable of being operated by the foot of the operator- This means includes a foot rod or treadle 78 connected at its ends to treadle levers 79 rotat ably mounted on the legs 80 of the base member 2, as upon a cross rod 81 passing from one side leg to the other side leg 80 of the base members 2. The outer ends of the arms 79'are pivotally connected to links 83 pivotally connected at their upper ends to toggle joint members 84 and 85, the members 84 being 'pivotally connected to the socket members 75 by way of the bolts 76 and the other toggle members 85 being pivotally connected to the shank member 71. It will be seen from Figs. 2, 3 and '4 of the drawing that the toggle members 84 and 85 are so arranged that when the link 83 draws them downwardly the toggle members 84 will pass by the dead-center of the connection between the toggle members 85 and the shank 71, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawing, and the spring 73 then acts to hold the toggle members in such position, which is a. locked position of the mechanism. The pressure of the spring cannot then move the roll 36 toward the shoe 6. The operator may then release his foot from the rod 78 without any danger of the spring moving the roll 36 toward the shoe 6. This leaves the operators hands both free to place the material upon the table 53 and over the roll 36 into the space provided between it ironing operation. I K

To start or resume ironing operation, the operator presses upon 'a trip lever or arm 87 fastened to a cross shaft 88 supported at its ends in the side arms 80 of the base members 2. Fastened to the cross shaft 88 near its ends and below the arms 79 are arms 89 the upper ends of which are capable of coming into contact with the. arms'79 and moving the same upwardly. As soon as the arm 79 is moved upwardly with the links 83 the toggle members are raised, and the members 84 moved out of dead line or center and the spring 73 immediately can come into play to automatically move the arms 59 outwardly so as to move the roll 36, together with the holder 52 and the table 53 to bring It is not limited to be driven from the mechanism of a washing machine but any other laundry .mechanism having power driven devices may be used. In this case, to illustrate the invention, the end of the machine having the driving mechanism, may be lifted slightly by the operator, so as to raise the coupling 37 over a corresponding coupling of the washing machine. \Vhen the coupling 37 is suitably positioned over the corresponding coupling of the driving mechanism of a washing machine the ironing machine is permitted to be lowered so that the member 37 will properly mesh with the washing machine coupling member and the driving member of the washing machine will then drive through this member 37, the gear mechanism of the driving mechanism to the roll 36. With such construction it is not necessary to have a separate full power driving mechanism, but a single power mechanism from, as for example, a washing machine, may be used.

While I have herein described and shown upon the drawings a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that it is merely illustrative thereof, and that it is not limited to the particular construction,

details and arrangement of parts shown and described, .but that other constructions, de-

tails and arrangements ofparts are comprehended by the invention without departing from the spirit thereof. Having now described my invention, I claim; a 1

1. An ironing machine comprising a support, an ironing shoe on the support, a movable holder on the support, a roll rotatably mounted in the holder and movable with the holder to and from the shoe, means for moving the holder, said means including tog le members connected to the support and to t e holder for holding the holder and moving means in locked position when operated to move the holder and the roll in non-ironing relation with the shoe.

2. An ironing machine comprising a support, an ironing shoe on the support, a movable holder'on the support, a roll rotatably nected at one end to from the end of said mounted in the holder and movable with the holder to and from the shoe, means for moving the holder, said means including toggle members rigidly connected to the support and the holder, said toggle members operating to hold the moving means locked in one position of movement thereof.

3. An ironing machine comprising a support, an ironing shoe on the support, a movable holder on the support, a roll rotatably mounted in the holder and movable with the holder to and from the shoe, means for moving the holder, said means including toggle members rigidly connected to the support and the holder, said toggle members operating'to hold the moving means locked in one position of movement thereof, and trip means for releasing the toggle joint of its locked condition whereby the moving means is permitted to operate" to another position.

4. An ironing machine comprising end supports, a shoe thereon, a drive shaft on one of said supports, a second support pivoted to said first support and having its upper end constantly spaced therefrom, a rotatable roll, a bearing for said roll carried by said second support, a shaft projecting roll and, flexibly connected to said drive shaft, said shafts being in substantial alinement, means for moving said roll toward and from said shoe, the space between said roll and shoe at an end thereof being whollyfree .-from obstruction from said bearing and support.

5. An ironing machine comprising a first "support, a second support pivoted thereto and provided with an arm depending below the point of pivot, a shoe and roll carried by said supports, a spring disposed between said arm and first support, toggle members consaid first support and depending arm, a pedal, levers connected to said pedal and to said first support and to the opposite end of said toggle members.

6. An ironing machine comprising a first support, a second support pivoted thereto provided with an arm depending below the point of pivot, 'a shoe and roll carried by said supports, a spring disposed between said arm andfirst support, toggle members connected at one end to said first support and depending arm, a pedal, levers connected to said pedal and to said first support and to the opposite end of said toggle members, a

second pedal pivoted to said first support and provided with an arm adapted to embrace said first toggle.

7. In an ironing machine, the combination of a support, a second support pivotally mounted thereon, a roll-and an ironing shoe carried by said supports, an arm depending from said second support below the point of pivot, toggle members connected to said arm and to said first support, a 'pedal on said first support, and connections from said pedal to said toggle members constructed and arranged to maintain the upper end of said movable support in spaced relation from said first support upon the operation of said pedal.

8. In an ironing machine, the combination of a first support, an ironing shoe thereon, a second support pivoted to said first support and having an arm depending below the point of pivot, a roll on said second support, toggle members connected to said first support and to said arm, a pedal, and means for automatically causing the upper end of said movable support to be maintained in spaced relation from said first support upon operation of said pedal.

9. In an ironing machine, the combination of a first support, an ironing shoe thereon,

a second support pivoted to said first sup-- I HOWARD F. SNYDER. 

